Tennessee Man to Plead Guilty in U.S. Supreme Court Filing System Breach
In a significant development highlighting vulnerabilities within the nation’s highest judicial institution, Nicholas Moore, a 24-year-old resident of Springfield, Tennessee, is set to plead guilty to multiple unauthorized accesses of the U.S. Supreme Court’s electronic document filing system. Between August and October 2023, Moore allegedly infiltrated the system on 25 separate occasions, as detailed in court documents.
The specific nature of the information Moore accessed remains undisclosed. However, the frequency and duration of these breaches have raised serious concerns about the security protocols safeguarding sensitive judicial documents. Moore’s virtual court appearance for the guilty plea is scheduled for this Friday.
When approached for comments, representatives from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, which is prosecuting the case, stated that no additional information beyond the public record could be provided at this time. Similarly, the U.S. Department of Justice has yet to respond to inquiries regarding further details of the case. Moore’s defense attorney, Eugene Ohm, has also remained silent on the matter.
The case first came to public attention through the diligent monitoring of court documents by Seamus Hughes of Court Watch, a researcher and journalist specializing in judicial proceedings.
This incident is not isolated. In recent years, U.S. court systems have faced multiple cyber intrusions. Notably, in August 2025, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts announced enhancements to its cybersecurity measures following a cyberattack on its electronic court records system. This breach was attributed to hackers affiliated with the Russian government, underscoring the persistent threats to judicial cybersecurity.
The Moore case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in protecting sensitive governmental systems from cyber threats. It also highlights the critical need for continuous evaluation and strengthening of cybersecurity defenses within all branches of government to prevent unauthorized access and potential manipulation of vital information.
